Well 3 weeks down and at least 4 weeks to go, that is the awesome news for everyone, the playoffs. All those schools who don’t have a shot from playing bigger schools and going 5-4 doesn’t matter this year. More on that shortly…Two of our ultra local five schools remained unbeaten this past Friday as Clare continued to roll beating Farwell big. They have now outscored their opponents 145-6 through three games, Friday could provide a good test, as Gladwin hosts the Pioneers and it will be the first time the Flying G’s go into this games with a winning record since 2014, however it’s been way long 1981 since Gladwin beat Clare. Beal City rolled to a 3-0 record blasting Manton 45-8, Jake Gross threw for 3 td’s for the Aggies! Sacred Heart and Mt Pleasant both fell to 2-1 with tough losses to Peck and Midland High, both teams had leads in their games, but couldn’t hang on. This week we get out first look at Sacred Heart Saturday as they host Akron Fairgrove, and Friday night it’s another look at the Oilers as they host Flint Powers Catholic!
Back to the schools that might go 5-4 and never may the playoffs, an example Saginaw High has lost all three of their games to Midland High, Midland Dow, and Bay City Western. However when the playoffs come Saginaw (enrollment 456) will play against schools their own size instead of the fore mentioned Saginaw Valley League opponents (Midland Dow enrollment 1312). The same could be said for the Oilers matchup this Friday against Flint Powers. If Jason McIntyre weren’t the coach I would call this a trap game as it sits between the two Midland matchups. Flint Powers is 1-2 on the year, but those 2 losses similar to Saginaw come vs schools that in all reality Flint powers shouldn’t be playing their enrollment I 637, similar to Alma they actually lost to Alma in the playoffs a few years back. Well imagine Alma playing…both of the Midland Schools, yup combine them and you have Grand Blanc and Davison the 2 losses for Flint Powers! Powers lost to those same schools last year and advanced all the way to the D4 state final..So make no mistake Friday night Mt Pleasant could have a very tough game on their hands and this becomes a key game if they want to avoid an opening round playoff matchup vs Muskegon High or Cedar Springs.
The good news if the Oilers didn’t have catastrophic mistakes vs Midland High they win that game, they faced a very good Midland High team with a 3 year starter at QB and made plays when they needed too. The problem was those plays were followed or preceded by big mistakes. I expect the oilers to do a better job of handling kickoffs this week and if they do that it will be tough, but they should take care of business against Flint Powers Catholic..This will only be the third time these two schools have ever played with the matchup at 1-1.
Saturday we get our first watch and listen of Sacred Heart Academy as they host Akron Fairgrove. The Irish are 2-1 and had outscored their opponents 156-0 early against Peck. Credit to the Pirates they fought and fought their way back scoring 28 unanswered and somehow bested Sacred Heart Academy 28-22. The Irish probably needed that though, a punch in the mouth as they were rolling teams and had won 80-0 vs Caseville in a game where Caseville had negative yards total offense/ So in the long wrong I think the loss is a good thing for Sacred Heart as things will get very difficult if they venture several rounds in the D2 8-man tourney. In saying that the Irish could be in great shape for their final few games down the stretch where they could really gain some confidence, but they really wish they had a chance to play a Deckerville or Kinde North Huron (would have been weeks one and two) for some tough contests heading toward the MHSAA 8 man playoffs. We will find out a lot more about this Irish team Saturday afternoon!
Other area games: Midland @ Bay City Central– Oscoda @ Blanchard Montabella– Howard City @ Central Montcalm– Beaverton @ Farwell– Alma @ Frankenmuth– Clare @ Gladwin– Shepherd @ Harrison– Saginaw Valley Lutheran @ Ithaca– Evart @ Lake City– Bay City Western @ Midland Dow– Midland Bullock Creek @ Millington — Lakeview @ Morley Stanwood — Fremont @ Chip Hills — Saginaw Nouvel @ St louis — in 8 man Whittemore Prescott @ Vestaburg and on 92.3 FM and My1043.net Friday the Mt Pleasant Oilers host Flint Powers Catholic and Saturday Sacred Heart Academy hosts Akron Fairgrove!
